oil ight

[crig]

Red oil warning light on dash is on faintly whilst driving - brighter on tickover - oil level in dipstick seems ok - causes please ? recently had new 1st / reverse gear work done - could it be oil level in gearbox ?

[Jaygrint3]

It won't have nothing to do with the gearbox work/oil.
Oil light is only to do with the engine oil.
You say it has oil in, when was the last time it had a proper engine oil change including cleaning out the 'oil filter'?

The oil filters are regularly left uncleaned and over time build up with gunk.

I wouldn't drive it until the problem has been sorted.

[Gadge]

A flickering oil light indicates low oil pressure which could be a number of things. A blockage in the oil ways could do this (as jay says give that oil filter a bloody good clean out) or a dicky oil pressure switch (cheap and easy enough to replace) or more seriously a knackered oil pump. Ild start with the filter and and oil change and just for good measure a new pressure switch and go from there. If the problem still persists then it needs further investigating.

[crig]

thanks for advice will get oil filter cleaned and oil changed

[crig]

Having checked records of previous owner - oil was changed and filter cleaned about 1500 miles ago - so probably isn't that ? what's the next thing to check ?

[ChrisRLewis]

Having checked records of previous owner - oil was changed and filter cleaned about 1500 miles ago - so probably isn't that ? what's the next thing to check ?

A new oil pressure switch and fingers crossed.

[Jaygrint3]

Be sure that the records are from a reputable garage or trustworthy person. I'm not suggesting otherwise how ever it's easy to say/record that the oil filter was cleaned out without actually doing it.

Maybe go the new oil pressure switch route and see where that gets you. If the fault is still there personally I would check the oil filter for my own piece of mind before thinking about major engine overhaul.

[Jaygrint3]

I forgot to say  that there's a great step by step guide for checking/cleaning the oil filter on the home page in the menu section. If you have a look at it there are pics of a dirty/clogged oil filter. You can see how bad they can get.

[crig]

ok thanks for posts will check filter first - then switch 

[Lloyd74]

all of the above and what oil are you using, some oils thin when warm is the light on when it is cold or ok when cold and then starts to come on as it warms, My Rover P5 does this at tickover, described in handbook as normal

[crig]

only just started doing this recently - have ordered new switch - hopefully will sort it.

[crig]

Replaced oil pressure switch - no change - problem was with alternator - now sorted